Fly: Spring Wiggler -Natural Hex
Type: Nymph
History: This pattern was developed in Michigan in the early 1970s for steelhead fishing. I have provided two styles there are many other variations of this classic nymph pattern. One is creme body, and one is tan with gills. Either can be effective.
Where used: All NA lakes and rivers where hexigenia limbata or mysis shrimp are present.
When used: At any time
Species: All that inhabit these waters but has been very effective on great lakes steelhead, salmon, brown trout, rainbow trout, small mouth bass, carp etc.
How to Fish: Dead drifted with a few twitches at the end of the drift to imitate a scurrying nymph from the bottom.

Tying Instructions

This fly can be tied with out eyes, bead head, weighted and unweighted. All have worked.

1. Weight the hook with some wire or bead head
2. Tie a 1 inch section of tail at the end of the hook starting above the hook point.
3. Tie over that a longer 2-3 inch section of same material as 2 which will become the shell back. I usually place a drop of head cement on the tail and shell back feathers before doing the rest of the fly. It gives this durability and prevents the tail and shell back from coming apart on the river.
4. Tie in the hackle and yarn above the point of the hook where you will start the wrapping of the body and hackle forward to the head.
5. Wrap yarn forward to head and tie off.
6. Wrap hackle forward to head and tie off.
7. If you are going to add gills tie them in the head of the fly now before pulling the shell back over.
8. Trim hackle on the top of the fly before you pull the shell back over.
9. Pull the shell back over
10. Tie down with thread at the head of the fly
11. Whip finish
12. Cement the head

If you can't catch fish in waters where Hex Limbata is present with this fly, well its probably time to go back to golf.